FAKEWELl. 8ESi.Mi)rV, 

V 

PREACHED TO THE ^ 

CHURCH AND SOCIETY 




MAY 29, 1830. 


BY THEIR LATE PASTOR, 

REV. JEDIDIAH BTJSHNELL, 





rPUBLISHED BY REQUEST OF THE CHURCH.] 


M I D D L E B U R Y : 
1836. 



PRINTED AT THE AMERICAN PRESS. 


PMu 

DEC 1-U'1940 





lOl'd 


Numbers xxvii, 16 , 

^‘LET THE LOUD, THE GOD OF THE SPIRITS OF 
ALL FLESH, SET A SIAN OVER 
THE CONGREGATION.” 

These are the words of Mosos to God, when he was about 
to be separated from the people ol Israel. He had long 
had the charge of that people, and was now called to resign 
his commission to him who gave it. Of this resignation Moses 
did not complain; but he felt an anxiety for the people over 
whom he had been long placed. After giving them a system 
of instructions to guide them in future, he breathed out his soul 
in the following prayer, “ Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of 
all flesh, set a man over tho congregation, who may go out 
before them, and who may go in before them, who may lead 
them out, and who may bring them in ; that the congregation of 
the Lord be not as sheep, which have no shepherd.’’ 

Every person will see, that my text expresses the appropriate 
desires of a pastor, resigning his pastoral office over a people. 
These desires relate to a successor, and to the happiness of the 
people under his administration. All this is adapted to the 
present time and circumstances amongst ourselves. 

To bring this subject into view, I will 

I. DESCRIBE THE MAN, WHOM I PRAY GOD TO SET 
OVER THIS CHURCH AND CONGREGATION. 

II. SHOW WHAT SHOULD BE THE CARRIAGE OF 
THIS PEOPLE TO THEIR PASTOR, TO BE HAPPY UN¬ 
DER HIS MINISTRY. 

I. I am to describe the man^ whom I pray God to set over 
this church and congregation. 

He should be a man of approved and eminent pie.ty'. This will 
be conceded by all. A person of ordinary piety, is not qualified 
to be a minister of the gospel. His doctrine, his office, the forms 
of his consecration, and his whole calling, are, according to the 
scriptures, pre-eminently and exclusively holy. Not only the 
bible, but the consciences of all men, demand of ministers pre¬ 
eminence in holiness. It is self-evident, that their advantages to 
attain to it, are beyond those of others; and they are logo 
before the people, and should eclipse, and outshine them all ; 


4 


then they are examples to their hocks ; and let it be remember¬ 
ed, that example in ministers, is power. A [)astor whose piety 
is rusty, is a terror to his people. God grant, thercfore,^r5/ of 
all, that you may have a man of eminent piety, to be your future 
pastor, to be a lamp before you. 

He should be a man of discreet prudetice ; not of sudden im¬ 
pulses, and hot decisions. Such things frighten the gentle and 
lovely spirit of the gospel, and oftentimes misguide a whole peo¬ 
ple. Religion loves full investigations, and scorns those which 
are partial. Says the excellent Foster, “ first impressions are 
fallacious guides to right actions.” I believe, that I have com¬ 
mitted more mistakes for want of investigation, before I decided, 
especially on novel subjects, than from any other cause, during 
my whole life. And it is submitted also, whether the evil has 
not considerable extent among ministers at large. I am also 
convinced from observation, that this church and people have 
oftener misjudged, and thrown themselves into unhappy results, 
from the same cause, than from any other whicli can be named. 
These sudden impulses, and partial examinations, are the false 
inductions, against which, logicians, and the best of theologians, 
have warned in every age, more than against any one thing in 
all their writings. The evil has been the foundation of error in 
every generation, and the bane of truth. May your future pas¬ 
tor be one not governed by first impressions, or sudden appear¬ 
ances, but one, who investigates, before he judges, and thinks, 
before he speaks. 

He should be a man of education. Not only the truth de¬ 
mands this, but the age in which we live. One truth is plain, 
that no minister can communicate to an audience, what he 
himself does not know. No man ever despised learning, but he 
who did not possess it. Education enables a man to investigate, 
simplify, arrange and make plain the truths of salvation, or any 
truths which he aims to communicate. It is designed to furnish 
the mind with knowledge, and to assist the thoughts and ex¬ 
pression, so that the sense will be clear, and the truth forcible. 
On the other hand, how painful it is to see a grand doctrine of 
salvation, in the management of a preacher, who cannot inves¬ 
tigate, nor arrange, nor express himself clearly; but who sur¬ 
rounds his subject with some affected pompous expressions, 
which rather shed darkness than light on the noble truth. Your 
numbers, in this place, are such, and your degree of education, 
that no uneducated, superficial man is sufficient to meet the 
wants of this people, though he may be pious, and labor with 
zeal. Besides, an educated minister is a continual help to the 
improvement of the rising generation, and at the same time, 
disciplines the minds of the whole church and congregation 


into just modes of estimating the truth, and shows them, when 
a tiling is proved, and when not proved. Your future minister, 
therefore, should be a man of solid education. 

He should be a man of simple verily. This looks lovely in 
any man, but in a minister, it has great force on the conscien¬ 
ces of a guilty world. It has opened a passage, and carried 
many a nsinister through a host of evils. Preachers of the 
gospel are under great temptations to depart from it, owing to 
the desire of mankind for extravagant accounts, and fondness 
in ministers to be thought favored instruments. But if a minis¬ 
ter is not careful on this point, God will send leanness into his 
soul, and he will even learn his people to make light, both of 
truth and falsehood. No man who indulges in this habit, will 
be able long to be unseen. All a minister’s preaching there¬ 
fore, all his narratives, all his conversations, should be simple 
verit}'. It should shine in his very features, and in every ex- 
pr(3Ssion of his whole being. If he finds hi/nself at any time, to 
have been under a mistake, he should correct it before his peo¬ 
ple, that he .may stand before them unsuspected, as an honest 
man. President Edwards resolved, that he would always 
speak simple verity.” Such a man will find support in his own 
bosom, and lift up his face to God. He need not, and he will 
not be afraid of his own pulpit. But the moment, that he 
begins to vary from simple verity, he brings trouble into his own 
conscience, if he has one, and if he has none, he will soon sac¬ 
rifice his influence in the confidence of the people. May simple 
verity, theiefore, be on the breast-plate, and in the whole life of 
your future minister. A single detection of a departure frem 
this, will remain on the minds of his hearers, many years. 

He should be a man of studious habits. No man can avoid 
being superficial, when this is not the case. In such cases the 
human mind loses its discipline and balance, and becomes 
diffuse and irregular in its communications. Some men of 
native talents, who hate study, sometimes nearly smile at the 
studious habits of others, and seem to pride themselves in being 
able to command attention without it. But the effect is inva¬ 
riably seen, in their own leanness, and in the poverty of knowl¬ 
edge among their people. Such pastors educate a people to 
be like themselves, whose latter end is usually leaner than their 
beginning; and what is worse still, they are left to be carried 
about by every wind of doctrine. The bible has put this partic¬ 
ular beyond a doubt. God commanded the priests of old to 
carry beaten oil into the sanctuary. Paul directed Timothy 
to “ give attendance to reading,” and to “study to show him¬ 
self approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be 
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Ministers also 


G 


are farther charged to biing out of the treasure of God’s word, 
things new and old, and to give to every one their portion of 
meat in due season. It is true, a minister should not spend all 
his time in his study, an error into which some have too much 
fallen. Neither should he study too much over the midnight 
lamp, and thereby waste his strength in the season for nature’s 
repose. But study he must, a due proportion of his time, and 
establish studious habits, or become a tiresome preacher to a 
stated audience. He should study to make study a pleasure, 
and carry the pleasure down to his old age. 

He should be a man well versed in systematic theology; one 
who can trace and connect the relative proportions of the 
truths of the bible, and present them in the beauty of their 
moral harmony, giving to each its due place and importance. 
Truth thus seen, powerfully affects and charms the mind. Such 
a preacher will interest and impress an audience more in six 
months, than others, unaquainted with the symmetry and rela¬ 
tive proportions of bible truth, can in years. To illustrate this, 
an ignorant man sees some beauty,* when he looks upon the 
starry heavens, and imagines, he discovers some signs of order 
and harmony there. But he vvilf never feel that charm, and 
deep awe at the sight, that an astronomer will, who has inves¬ 
tigated that system of worlds, in their connection and relative 
proportions, and has discovered how they “stand or move” 
in obedience to their Maker’s will. The reason is plain ; parts 
only, and those obscurely, are presented to the mind of the 
ignorant man. Whereas the whole comes down to the astron¬ 
omer’s mind in all its proportions, beauty and grandeur, which 
convince, charm and overwhelm him with astonishment and 
wonder. A thousand other similitudes of a like nature might 
be adduced as illustrations. So a man, ignorant ot the system¬ 
atical connection of bible truth, may be a good man, and 
preach not much else but truth, and sometimes render some 
branch of truth striking, and may do good in this apostate world. 
But such a man will never be able to preach the doctrine of 
justification by faith without the deeds of the law in its connec¬ 
tions with the other great truths of the bible. He will even be 
exposed to falter on the doctrines of atonement, regeneration, 
and many others. It is plain also, that the preacher cannot 
carry his audience beyond where he goes himself. But when 
the preacher has investigated, and gone into the system himself, 
and seen its beauty and felt its power, he can bring it out to his 
people in all its proportions, charms, and majesty. May such a 
man be your future minister. Ignorance may smile here, but 
wisdom and grace never can. If a preacher would have solid 
heat in his own bosom, it niust be drawn from such sources as 


7 


these. And if he would fill the house of the Lord with an awfuf 
solemnity, it must be under the combined influence of the great 
truths of divine revelation. 

He should be a man, who makes the sanctification of the 
churchy and the conversion of sinners, the great object of his life. 
To this the people call him, when they invite him to be their 
pastor. They do not invite him to associate with all the separate 
interests of the community, which often clash one with another, 
and which in the present tense, cannot be associated directly 
with the object of his calling. But his object is specific, and of 
a heaven-born nature. His oath to God, at the time of h'm 
consecration, is of the same nature. He there engaged to 
remove hindrances, and waste his powers, and consume his 
life, to carry forward the objects of his ministry. For this end 
also was he clothed by God with his commission. Here there¬ 
fore, should he fix, and never be moved by this tumultuous 
world. We have some fine examples of this. Christ’s was 
the most luminous; he let Caesar take care of his sepa¬ 
rate interests. He let the Jews take care of their worldly 
economy, while he was engaged about his Father’s business; 
for this he lived, and for this he died. The attention and spirit 
of all the apostles to their calling were the same. Paul said to 
his hearers, “ 1 determined not to know anything among you, 
save Jesus Christ and him crucified, and was with you in weak¬ 
ness, and in fear, and in much trembling.” The same has been 
the spirit of the best ministers on the whole theatre of provi¬ 
dence. A minister, therefore, must be a man, who has an 
opinion of his own, formed on his best judgment of the bible, 
from which he should not be easily moved. He should be no 
party man. Every party will endeavor to enlist him, and make 
a draft of his influence to their separate interests. But on such 
subjects he should hold no conference with flesh and blood, lest 
his own work should cease. In short, he should be a man, who 
can be neither tempted, frowned, flattered, led, or driven from 
his appropriate calling. No man, but such a man,can ever safely 
manage this church and people, or any other, in things which 
pertain to the kingdom of God. How afflicting the case, when 
a minister has not moral courage enough to stand at his post, 
and work in his own vineyard, but through fear or covetousness 
is driven all ways. He usually has, however, his reward in 
contempt to his person, and in the distractions of his people. 

He should be a zealous preacher ; a cold one is not of much 
service in this sleepy world. To speak of God’s love, of sin, 
of heaven, of hell, and of the death of Christ with a dull heart, 
and frozen lips, will never move apostate nature, nor much 
enliven a Christian. He should, however, be a man, not of a 


8 


hery zeal, but of solid heal. Fiery zeal misguides, and is soon 
extinguished ; it blazes for a short time, and disappears, and 
moral death, as cold as ever, usually follows. But solid heat 
burns like a lamp, and is perpetual, like the holy fire on the Jew* 
ish aliar. Elijah was a fine example of this, when the moral 
death around him was nearly universal, he burnt hke a constant 
fiame. So Christ was ever shining in holy zeal. The apostles 
were other examples. Luther, Whitefield, Edwards, Brainard, 
Payson, Martyn, Mills, and thousands of others in past ages, 
and thousands now alive, and multitudes in humble life, have 
had a zeal, which has advanced forward, and shone brighter 
and brighter, until it has left the world. Such is the character 
of the true minister of the gospel. Fitful zeal is animal, and 
usually selfish, it cannot be divine ; and all people, who have 
this only, should suspect themselves. 

He should not be a man greedy of the world. If worldly things, 
however, are communicated to him, he should direct them to 
be managed with economy, that nothing be lost. In so doing, 
a less sum will support him, and more be left to support the 
household of faith, and to convert the world. It is possible, 
some ministers have failed in their temporal management, and 
the waste of property has followed. “ But,” says the scriptures, 
“ they that wjll be rich, fall into temptation, and a snare, and 
into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in des¬ 
truction, and perdition. For the love of money is the root of 
all evil.” In view of this passage, the apostle says to Timothy, 
“O man of God, flee these things.” The priests of old were 
not permitted to expect much wealth in this world, but it was 
added for their consolation, that the Lord was their inheritance. 

He should not be a man fond of debate^ and yet be able when 
duty calls to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to 
the saints. Some ministers seek opportunities to enter the lists 
with all they find. But it is a great unhappiness; their people 
partake of the same spirit, and usually both minister and peo¬ 
ple are alternately filled with pride and mortification. God 
judges the practice. The apostle calls it ‘ vain jangling,” and 
warns ministers most solemnly against it. 

Your minister should be no boaster. Says the apostle, “ we 
preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord.” Says Christ, 

if I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.” Of all 
fulsome sights in this world, this is one of the most painful, to 
see a minister ascend the pulpit to proclaim himself, and 
leave Christ in the shade. Such self-commendations shame 
the ministry. 

Your minister should never ridicule. Ridicule is the weapon 
of infidels, because they have no solid arguments. But how 


mlent the Ihis subject except to condemn it. God 

commanded tn/^ isrealites to destroy the idols of Canaan, and 
it was for them to do it; but he would not permit his 

to ridicule them, His words are, “ thou shall not revile 
the gods.” Michael also, when disputing with the devil, durst 
not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, “ the Lord 
rebuke thee.” Ridicule is not serious enough for the pulpit; it 
rouses the apostate passions of men, and makes bad worse* 
The minister therefoi‘e, who employs it, afflicts the pious of his 
congregation, and provokes the passions of the ungodly, and 
associates himself with the manners of infidel men. Christ rea¬ 
soned, persuaded, and threatened, but never ridiculed. All men 
know that ridicule is not a lawful weapon for a minister, and if 
he employs it, they will return it full measure. 

Your minister should be a man of much prayer; prayifig 
always with all-prayer. He should be a man of patience, not 
easily vexed, nor soon angry. If he is devoid of patience, he 
will be more miserable than most men in their callings. 
must be an active man, or his work will be left undone. - 
must consecrate his life to his duties. Says the apostle 
Timothy, “ give jthyself wholly to them, that thy profiting majf 
appear to all.” Again, to enforce the same duty, he says, “ no > 
^an that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this' 
fife, that he may please him, who hath chosen him to be a sol¬ 
dier.” The fact is, in this office, God demands the whole man^. 
his heart, his talents and his time, and has declared, that stew¬ 
ards must be faithful. If there are some exceptions to this 
general rule, and doubtless there are some extreme cases, they 
should be managed by necessity and not covetousness. Mr.' 
Baxter, of old England, states in his Pastor Reformed, that he 
did not see how ministers of the gospel could find time for fish- , 
ing and hunting, or the amusements of life, when the state of ’ 
their flocks demanded the improvement of every moment of 
time. Some loud raps, it is believed, will be given from the 
state of souls in another vrorld, on ministers’ wasted time. 

Your minister should be a man ready to confesk his mistakes 
and Jaults^ and thereby shun a thousand evils, for who can brow¬ 
beat a minister confessing his sins : It is true he may be as¬ 
sailed in that duty, but he will command an influence in the 
consciences of his abusers, and honor the cause he is bound td\> 
sustain. If his faults are not such as shame him out of thc'ltii^- 
istry, confession will soon obliterate them from the min da of his 
people. How quick our Lord and his disciples overlooked. Pe¬ 
ter’s denial when they saw him weep bitterly : it was soon for¬ 
gotten, and Peter put forward in his work. But if a minister , 
will not see his faults, and what is worse still, if he is stul^bprn 


10 


in them, the Lord take care of such a minister, for this world 
never will. Perhaps, there is no particular in which ministers 
of the gospel oftener fail. 

Your minister should not be abrupt and rough in his man* 
ners. This in a minister stops the ears of all classes of people, 
both good and bad, vulgar and polished. He must be kind, 
modest, gentle. Says the apostle, “ we were gentle among 
you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children.” Again, he says, 

“ gentle, showing all meekness to all men.” He must also be 
a lover of good men^ given to hospitality, and full of the Holy 
Ghost, and of faith, and hope in the exercise of his whole minis* 
try ; and, if he cannot do great things, he should be happy to 
do small. If I recollect right, Mr Newton in some of his works 
has something to the following amount, though not in the exact 
words. He states, that George Whitefield and some others 
were enabled sometimes to let down their nets, and draw thou¬ 
sands of souls to the shores ofsalvation, in a short time. But 
as for myself, and others, he remarks, we angle about the 
streets of London, and catch one here, and one there, and bring 
them to God, after much toil and labour. Then adds, “ while 
others do great things, we are happy to do small.” Among the 
solitary instances thus brought to Christ by the instru¬ 
mentality of John Newton, were Wilberforce, Dr Scott, and 
some others of great note in the Christian world. When the 
influence, which these men have had on the salvation of man¬ 
kind, is duly estimated, how great will appear the instrumental¬ 
ity oi that one man in the conversion of souls. J^et ministers, 
therefore, when they conclude that they cannot do great 
things, be happy to do small. 

To close this head, your minister should be a promoter of rc* 
vivals of Religion^ and a supporter of all the benevolent institu¬ 
tions of the day, which in his judgment are so managed, as to 
advance the common interests of mankind. 

Such a minister, as we have defined, should be your pastor, 
May the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set such a man 
over this church and congregation^ 

Here it may be proper for me to remark, that this first head 
of discourse has doubtless brought to your minds many faults, 
which have attended my own ministry among you. The head, 
which is to follow, will bring to your rememberance your mis¬ 
takes, as far as any have prevailed. I have no wish, at the present 
time, to expose either your faults or mine; I hope they are all 
forgiven. But my object simply is to give, without personal re¬ 
flections, my last advice to a people, to whom I wish all good, 
on the subject of a future pastor, and their carriage to him. This 


11 


may lead to a correction of mi«takes, and be profitable to yoa 
when I can influence you no more. 

If. I AM NOW TO SHOW WHAT SHOULD BE THE CARRIAGE OP 
THIS PEOPLE TO THEIR PASTOR, TO BE HAPPY UNDER HIS MINISTRY. 

You should rexeive him as one placed over you in the Lord to 
counteract your sins, and point out the path of life to you. His 
office is to take you by the hand, and guide you out of this apos* 
tate world, to heaven. In this work he must honor God, or be 
guilty of perjury to his glory. He must probe your wounds, 
however, painful to him or you. He must administer the balm 
of life, whether accepted, or not. His very occupation is to 
eradicate lusts, and plant in the subdued soil the seeds of eter¬ 
nal life. He must watch, instruct, reprove, warn and rebuke, 
with all long suffering and doctrine. His location and work 
will be acknowledged to be difficult above all others in this 
world, and to demand the co-operation of all his people. Who 
would dare to lift a finger to counteract the influence of such a 
man, engaged in such a calling ? a calling to rescue from eter» 
nal death, and conduct to immortal salvation, those committed 
to his charge. You should therefore, receive him in this capa¬ 
city, and co-operate with him in all his labors. 

in the next place, be affectionate to your minister. This will 
sustain his courage more than your money. From a people, 
there is nothing like it to a minister’s bosom on earth. He will 
be happy on brown bread, if you will mingle your souls affection¬ 
ately with his. He will take hold of hands with you, and be 
willing to live and die with you. Such affection oils the wheels 
of his whole ministry, and emboldens his soul to every enterprise 
for your good. It is the sweetest thing, that exists between the 
heart of a minister, and those of his people : it to him is solace, 
yea, energy and power on his mind. But cold and distant feel¬ 
ings in this relation, and, what is worse, hypocritical profes¬ 
sions of friendship, have directly a counter effect, and are mil¬ 
dew and death on the soul. A. good minister in the State of 
Connecticut, with whom 1 once had some acquaintance, from 
whom his people for a season seemed to with-hold their affec¬ 
tions, endeavored for a while to pursue his labors among them, 
and to love the more, though the less he were beloved. But at 
last he sunk under his discouragement. One day, in his de¬ 
pressed state of mind, meeting one of his deacons, he said to 
him in the bitterness of his soul, “do feel with me, or I cannot live.' 
My hearers, you should not forget any thing due to your pastor, 
but if you do forget some things, do not forget to be affection- 
ate to him. 

You should respect your pastor for his office sake: this is put- 


1 * 


4ing an honor upon Christ, remember, he is not his own mes¬ 
senger, but Christ’s embassador: to disrespect him is to disres¬ 
pect Christ, who sent him. Says our Savior on this very point, 
‘*he that receiveth you, receiveth me; and he that receivethme, 
receiveth him, that sent me.” Again, “he that despiseth you, 
despiseth me, and he that despiseth me, despiseth him that sent 
me.” The apostle Paul also directs to give ministers double 
honor. God has put this honor upon them, and commands the 
world to acknowledge them as his embassadors to guilty men, 
and declares, that disrespect to them, is disrespect to him. 

Let your deportment to your minister be always in simple 
verity. This makes a people appear to their pastor some like 
the inhabitants of heaven, holy. Do not give a wrong meaning 
to his words and actions to wrest them from their tiue 
intention. Never report him, as unsound in doctrine, when he 
preaches nothing, but simple bible truth. Do not try to render 
him unpopular for sinister ends. Do not exaggerate reports 
about him. Never varnish over the misconduct of others to him. 
Never lay a stumbling block for his feet to fall. But in simpli¬ 
city and godly sincerity, let your speech and behavior be to him 
in simple verity. And should his carriage to you be improper, 
yours will be just to him, and your consciences, and your Maker, 
will both approve. Such a people will not be afraid to meet 
their minister’s face, neither in this, nor the coming world. But, 
if you sacrifice simple verity; your consciences will fill you with 
dismay before your pasior,and remember, that it is some difficult 
to receive profit from a minister you have wronged. I would, 
therefore, say to this people, let simple verity grace your con¬ 
duct in all your associations with your future pastor. 

Be carejul of your ministers character. Do not slander him; 
never magnifiy his faults. Do not give circulation to flying re¬ 
ports concerning him. Be in the habit of rebuking slanders and 
insinuations against him, whenever you meet them. Jn all such 
things, give him an opportunity to speak for himself, and hear 
his own explanations, before you judge his case. I knew a man 
once, who made a law in his family, that no person should ever 
be slandered at his table. You will all say that was a good 
law lor every household. How much more important to ob¬ 
serve this rule towards your guide to heaven, whose occupation 
is cast among the intrigues and clashing interests of a world at 
enmity with his calling. A minister’s character is his personal 
shield in his labors, do unto him, in this particular, as you would 
ethers should do unto you. The counter course of slander 
and insinuation is a sin, which without speedy repentance, will 
sooner or later be visited of God. It is true, a good man may 



expect to live through it, but the conflict even for innocence is 
sometimes long and and distressing, and involves a minister’s 
time and usefulness, and sometimes overwhelms a people in 
destruction. The words of Nicodemus to the Jewish Sanhe¬ 
drim on this subject should be engraven on the heart of every 
parishioner, '’^does our law judge any man before it hear him^ and 
know what he doeth?'‘^ 

Do not make your minister an offender for a word, or some 
small mistakes. The prophet in his complaint to God, against 
Israel says, “they make a man an offender for a woid.*’ Men, 
while in this imperfect state, who speak and act as much as 
ministers, w'ill be always guilty of such trespasses. Even Mo¬ 
ses, who probably was the most holy man, that ever lived, spoke 
unadvisedly with his lips. Elijah was a man subject to like 
passions with us. Failings also are recorded of nearly all the 
inspired writers. It must be so, that the excellency of the 
power of the ministry may be of God. Occasional failings 
blemish, but do not destroy a Christian character. Habitual 
sins persisted in will bring any man’s character down to the 
grave. Moses’ sins were occasional, his general character, 
therefore was sustained. King Saul’s were habitual, his there¬ 
fore, perished. In your carriage, therefore, to your pastor, in 
this particular, consider, that you yourselves are also in the 
body.” 

Never repeat your pastors failings, if you discover any, to your 
families. It is believed, that some parents for so doing have 
been the cause of the damnation of their children. A worse 
practice in parents can hardly be named. It should be 
remembered, that children or domestics are imperfect, and 
inexperienced on the subject of character, and where par¬ 
ents state to them such failings, they are exposed to conclude, 
that the whole character is bad. Where parents and guardians 
take this liberty, the minister will soon be looked upon with 
jealousy, his person held in contempt, and become a subject of 
cant and joke in the domestic circle, and his instructions lost to 
all their minds. The practice in its effects is awful, it hardens 
children to the whole gospel, has a powerful tendency to make 
infidels, and comes very near to banishing all religion from the 
household. Let parents and guardians therefore beware how 
they rehearse their pastor’s failings to their families. 

Do not devour too much of your minister'^s time in your inter¬ 
course with him. You should visit him, but your visits should 
be well timed. Long visits at a minister’s study are for a gener¬ 
al rule too great a draft on his time. Besides, short visits are 
much more effective than long ones. Long visits almost always 
become tiresome, and the ideas sparse. Never visit your pas- 


14 


Ur to loiter away time, or to go over the nonsense the day. If 
your visits are such, and your pastor be a good man, and cannot 
reform you, he will long for the time to come for your absence. 
Remember also, that,if he is a bad inan,nnd delight in such visits, 
he is not a safe companion for you. In short, your pastor must 
devote time for your intercourse with him, but that time must 
have its bounds, and sacredly consecrated to some valuable 
end. Let your visits be sensible ones, let your conversation be 
such as will refresh a good man, and matters most commonly 
will be well timed. 

Do not demand more visiting of your pastor than four able, 
ministers can perform, and attend to their other ministerial du* 
ties. On this subject, it seems, our world has never learned to 
reason. Would they divide a minister’s time, after just deduc¬ 
tions were made for ill health, and the sickness of his family, and 
other domestic avocations indispensible, between his studies, 
and public labors at home and abroad, which are numerous 
beyond all common calculation, they never would draw the 
conclusions, which they do. I do here advise every parishion¬ 
er to inquire into this subject, and make a just division of the 
time, and ascertain how great a share of it belongs to him, in 
one year. It is true, a minister must visit his people, Paul went 
“from house to house.” But there must be limits to this duty, 
or his pulpit will be shockingly lean; yea, if he have a stated 
charge, he will soon be an affliction to all the sensible part of 
his congregation. It it is utterly impossible to satisfy the pres¬ 
ent demands of people on this subject without a pastor’s neg¬ 
lecting more than half of his other duties. It is conceded the 
people are sincere in their demands, but it is desired, that they 
would make deductions, divide and subdivide a minister’s time, 
and learn to reason. As this visiting according to scripture 
must be done, the people should help their pastor in this service. 
It is every person’s duty to carry eternal life to his neigh¬ 
bors : in this way, a great amount of labor to gather in the lost 
sheep of the house of Israel, may be socially done. I think, 
that President Edwards’ course for himself was a good one: he 
assembled his congregation in groups, in different parts of the 
town, preached some, and conveised some with them, and 
thereby made a saving of much time; cases which, he could 
not reach on these occasions, he reserved for personal visita¬ 
tions. It is said by some, that President Edwards had not a 
talent for parochial risitiations. But it is said by others, that 
he exceeded all men in probing the hearts and consciences of 
those with whom he conversed. The fact was, the mind of 


15 


that great and gocMl man was placed on all hii duticf, and 
could not suffer one branch of duty to devour the otheri. 

Be cartful (o satisfy your pastor'^s temporal necessities. Pay 
him punctually the sum,which you stipulate to him, and more* 
if needed. Three evils arise from neglect on this subject. 1st. 
He cannot be punctual himself, and his character suffers. This 
is a withering blast to his influence. In such cases he shrinks 
before his creditors : he can neither meet their eyes, nor hold up 
his head ; and who can describe the poverty, which he feels with¬ 
in. If any man on earth is to be pitied, it is such a minister. 
2d. He loses his confidence in the rectitude of his people ; they 
suffer in his estimation, and who can bring such men freely to 
his bosom ? 3d. Those, who do not pay him, hate to see him. 

Facts, and the consciences of all men, prove the truth of this 
remark; nature must change her course to have it otherwise^ 
There is but one way to avoid all these calamities^ and secure 
a happy course : it is to pay your pastor punctually the demands 
which he has against you, and which God has enjoined* Per¬ 
mit me to say, I do hope, that this people, in some way, which 
their wisdom shall devise, will sustain themselves in this course 
to their minister. It will be of vast importance to you and your 
pastor, and will have no small bearing on the salvation of 
souls. 

ludiy before your pastor your cases of conscience,and ask his coun¬ 
sel and prayers. This brings before him the desire of his heart, 
the very object of his ministry. There is nothing like it in this 
world to give emotion to his soul; it will raise his courage, if he 
be half in despair. To illustrate this, I will state two facts, out 
of many, which have come under my own observation. Many 
years ago, at a time of religious depression among this people, 
when my mind and those of others, sunk in some measure in 
view of the moral state of our affairs ; one evening, as I sat in 
my house, rather pensive, some persons knocked at my door ; 
they were introduced, and having taken their seats, one of them 
said to me, “we feel in trouble for our souls, and we meet with 
difficulties, and have come to ask for your counsel and pray¬ 
ers.” I could hardly believe my own eyes, and ears. The 
sight of their persons, however, and the sound of their voices, 
and the agony of their feelings, rushed on to my mind with pow¬ 
erful emotions, and under God, my slumbers were broken, and 
my courage was raised. They told me also of several others, 
who had been impressed, at the house of God, on the proceed¬ 
ing sabbath. This, when communicated to my people had the 
like effect on their minds. A glorious reformation followed, 
which terminated in an addition of more than one hundred 
members to this church. Some years after, when spiritual 


16 


things again ran low in this place, one pleasant afternoon, as I 
was sitting in my house, not knowing of any uncommon atten¬ 
tion to religion in town, there came up to my door a young man, 
who was introduced to a seat. I noticed, when he entered the 
door, something a little luminous in his countenance, but could 
not tell just what it was : the thought, however, struck my mind, 
can he have come to converse with me on religion. As soon, 
as he took his seat, he said to me, “I have come to tell you 
something, should it prove to be true, I trust, will make you 
glad.” He then said to me, “I have a hope that I am new 
born.” The suddenness of the event, the appearance of the 
man, and the modesty with which he related what God 
done for him, under God, diffused an influence throu^\i my 
whole mind. Suffice it to say, it raised my courage and That of 
my people, when it was stated to them. Anotb/gr blessed work 
of God followed, which resulted in the add-^tion of nearly one 
hundred more persons to our eoinm':inion, There is nothing 
«mong mere men like such spiritual facts to move ministers, 
and move people forward \n the work of the Lord. Here I add, 
that It is no small shtire of the wisdom of a pastor, and his 
church, to duly improve such occurrences of Providence to pro¬ 
mote revivals of religion. In such gracious works, God im¬ 
proves exciting causes, when they are of a solemn scriptural 
character. I would, therefore, say to this assembly, let vour 
minister have the advantage of the moral state of your minds, 

I concisely add, pratj much for your rninister, stay up his 
hands to God, the apostle trusted, that he should be brought 
forward, through the instrumentality of the prayers of saints. 
Gladden his heart by your uniform and punctual attendance on 
his ministrations. Remember if it be your minister’s duty to 
preach, it is your duty to assemble to hear him. Associate and 
help him in every thing good, which he undertakes ; and the 
Lord give you understanding in all things. 

To close this head of discourse, ij'your pastor sins, proceed 
regularly against him as the gospel directs, and let him be heard 
and tried at ci regular tribunal. Thus proceeding, if he has done 
wrong, and is stubborn in his offence,you have him in your pow- 
pr. But if you adopt the opposite course, and slander and 
jjudge hirn unheard, you may commit much sin, make yourselves 
much trouble, and suffer much in public opinion. Fix it in your 
minds, therefore and never depart from it, that every man on 
earth has a right to a regular tribunal, to a fair process and a 
full hearing, before judgment is rendered. Now may the Lord, 
the God of the spirits of all flesh, grant that such may be your 
carriage to your future minister. 

It now remains for me to take my leave of you, as your pas« 


17 


tor, which, all things considered, I readily do. I commenced 
preaching the gospel thirty-eight years ago last February, The 
five first years of ministry, except a few weeks, 1 labored in the 
new settlements of our country, most of the time an itinerant 
missionary in behalf of the missionary society of Connecticut. I 
have always considered, that as the most happy and useful 
period of my whole life. I have been the pastor of this church 
and people, thirty-three years, on the day ofiny dismission. I 
have generally been happy with my people. I rejoice that 1 
have been located here in providence, and am well satisfied 
with my dismission, at the present time. I think the time has 
fully come for that event. I thank you for all the respect, 
which you have shown me through a long ministry, and for all 
the assistance, you have afforded to my person, and familj^, and 
to the cause placed under my labors. We all have had our 
faults. I liave had many. I thank you for the courtesy with 
which you have overlooked my mistakes through many years. 
It is true, and not too much to be said, at this time, that you 
liavo been inclined to bury my faults, rather that ludd them up to 
public view. This has been much to your tredit, and for my 
comfort. I thank you also, for the donation, which you gener™ 
otesly voted me, at the close of the silting of ihe council for my 
dismission, as expressive of your respect and kindness to me. 
Suffice it to say, that I am entirely satisfied with the adjustment 
of my dismission, and of all things in the settlement of our af¬ 
fairs, 'and am this day happy, 

I earnestly desire, that our affections may continue to be mutu¬ 
al, and our intercourse free and happy, while we live. It would 
be easy for me, though dismissed, to make you some unhappy, 
and for you to make me and my family, so ;’l ul I pray God, that 
this may never be the case ; but that we may live together, as 
those engaged in the same holy cause, and bound to the same 
happy world, where so many are gone, who now rejoice in their 
once mutual fellowship here below’. 

Live, my dear people, together in love. Keep the unity of 
the Spirit in the bond of peace. Make the sanctification of the 
church ol God, and the salvation of sinners, your ruling object 
here below. Subordinate all other valuable interests to that 
last end of God among men in this world; Let past differences 
of opinion, if there be any, be forgotten, and every person Com¬ 
bine in sweet concert to build up the house of Lord, Associate 
together, and bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts 
forward to the salvation of this people. 

A thousand lender emotions crowd on my mind, in part¬ 
ing with you, and mingle with my hopes and fears for your fu¬ 
ture welfare. Fourteen limes, within the space of thirty-three 


LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 


0 019 830 542 P| 

has the Holy Ghost from heaven t een sent down upon 
this people with divine power. Some of these revivals have 
been very general through the town. Others of them have been 
more limited in their influence. But all of theni have been 
very happy^ in their resu ts. During the same period, six hun¬ 
dred and eighty-two persons have been added to this church: 
some of them by letters, but far the greater proportion of 
them by profession. Among these there have been some fail¬ 
ures, which have caused us grief. But the greater share of 
them have maintained that consistency of character, which has 
enabled them to pass as believers among men. Many of them 
have removed to new settlements, and it is hoped, are building 
up Zion there; In this respect we have swarmed like a hive.— 

Many others have died, who, it is hoped, are now in glory. 

Some of them, in their last moments, manifested a holy triumph, 
which death itself out-braved. They now sleep in the dust, let 
them sleep on, until the Archiingers trump shall raise their 
sleeping dust and we see them again in body and soul. Many 
also from this church have been educated, and ha\c gone into 
the gospel ministry : all of these, rt is believed, have been use¬ 
ful, and some of them have risen to eminence in their work, A 
large class of others are now in a course of education for Vhe 
same blessed service. It has long been my opinion,that in these 
streams emitted from this church, she has done more good 
abroad, than at home. How far, I have been an instrument in 
the hand of God of promoting these good works, is, at present, 
unknown. This people, it is believed, have done much. To 
those, who still remain impenitent, I would say, the Lord take 
care of you, and give you a future pastor, who may win you to 
salvation. My dear people, with whom 1 have so long labored 
amidst the frosts of winter and heats of summer, pray for me 
and my family, and may I pray for you. My brethren of the 
church and congregation, I bid you an affectionate farewell.— 

And now may the Lord, the God oj the spirits of all flesh set 
M man over this church and jcongregation. A men. 

































































